Lovin' Tellin' The Story

Photo courtesy of Rassing Gabriel, who I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness  about the time of the evening offering.  Daniel 9:21b. The book of Daniel has to be one of the most fascinating in the entire Bible. Not only does it contain some of the most memorable stories (Shadrack, Meshack and Abed-nego; Daniel in the lion's den) but it also holds some of the most spellbinding visions and mind-blowing prophecies. I can't remember if it was a commentary, study note or a Bible study, but someone pointed out to me that Daniel is one of the few people (if not the only person) about whom nothing negative is said in the Bible. We all know that King David was hailed as "a man after God's own heart," but then there was that thing with Bathsheba. Moses was perhaps the greatest leader that Israel ever knew, but he also second guessed God from time to time. Peter was called the rock and is credited with some of the greatest statements i...

Photo courtesy of liesmich As for you, you meant evil against me, but god meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.  Genesis 50:20 I don't think I would be telling you anything new if I were to say that we live in a world that is increasingly dark, dangerous and evil. Despite the claims of some that say we, as a human race, are evolving into a better and better race, the evidence to the contrary seems to be overwhelming. Though some say that humans have been around for several hundred thousand years we are still dealing with the same vices and social misconduct that has been occurring since the beginning of recorded history. Each and every day the drama of Cain and Abel is played out on the news right before our very eyes. One thing is very clear to me, and that is the truth of an elderly King Solomon's words that there is "nothing new under the sun." For many of us tragedy and heartache does not come in form...

Value is something that we are intimately familiar with. Now, I'm not talking about value in the sense of the "values" that you hold, as in moral framework. I'm talking about what something is worth to you. Nearly every day we are faced with the question of what something is worth. For many of us, the value of motorized transportation is greater than the price of a gallon of gas. That is, we want to get somewhere bad enough that we will pay whatever the going rate is for fuel (I hesitate to put a dollar amount on it as it fluctuates on a daily basis). This concept is most obvious in our monetary transactions but it can be seen in other areas as well. How we spend our time is another way we can understand what we value in this life. Do we choose to spend time with family when we have the chance, or would we rather do something that only we  are interested in, never-mind the rest of the family? This brings up the question of how we determine value. Economically ...

When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.  Luke 12:11-12. What I want to share today is one specific truth that showed up in my sermon yesterday. If my fingers and eyes could handle it I would certainly share the entire sermon but for now let me just focus on one thing. The title of the message was "Fear & Fear Not" and the passage was Luke 12:1-12 where Jesus is preparing His disciples for the opposition and persecution that is to come. What He proceeds to do is offer a series of things that the disciples should not  be afraid of and some things that they  should  be afraid of, not least of which is God Almighty who, as verse 5 tells us, has authority to cast into hell. The really great news is that the same God who has the power and authority to take our lives f...